J.R.R. TOLKIEN. An autograph letter signed November 19, 1957, creator of a whole new world in his epic The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Tolkien writes, in a self-deprecating fashion, to Professor Przemyslaw Mroczkowski, Polish historian of English Literature, "My wife and I are very gratified for your invitation [from] you and your wife. I would, of course, but for the thought of the trouble we should be giving, be far more pleasant to have lunch chez vous." "I am dreadfully sorry that we cannot manage this Tuesday; but I do hope that you will find a chance to ask us again! (If I go to America at all, I will not be until the middle of March at the earliest). This is a very crowded week, and my wife is unfortunately not able to do many things (pleasant or otherwise) in succession. Tuesday is quote a good day usually." "I do not understand your use of 'bold'! It is extraordinarily kind of you both to bother about us. We are quite unimportant people. And I do hope that I have been bold enough to address you as a colleague without title. You will please do the same to me."

Thanks to Trotter for posting the link to my "What's my calendar worth?" page. I agree that eBay is probably the most ready market for them. As to what you can get for them, there's the rub. The 1977 - 80 Ballantine wall calendars are a bit common even with cardboard mailers (although it's better to have them than not) even if they're unopened . . . unless you have the rare 1979 Hobbit calendar. The desk calendars are a bit less common, especially if you have uncommon Methuen issue. If you have either of those, I'd sell them separately, describe them as the rarities they are, and set a specific minimum. (If you either one, let me know. We can discuss my perception of value.) If not, I think you'd get a better response (number of bids if not price) selling them as a lot. The common ones just don't sell individually and the cost of mailing them is often more than they're worth. I'd suggest watching a number of eBay auctions to get a feel for the market. It's easy to set up automated searches, watch them, and see the result of the auction when done. You'll have an idea of how best to list them (lot or individually) and what they could bring. Even then, one never knows about the eBay marketplace! It all depends upon who's and/or how many are interested. Any further questions, please post and I'll do my best to answer.

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir

Posted on: 2011/7/18 17:31

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Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise can not see all ends.

And it goes without saying that I find none of these negative attitudes here on this site

Damn, I do my very hardest to display all kinds of negative attitudes and you didn't even notice!!!

I'll try a bit harder - How about : "The movies were indeed utterly awful and I look down at the kinds of people that like them and wonder what it would be like to be amongst the company of such asinine gutter-trash?" ?